Elevator system



May 30, 1933. I D. LINDQUIST 1,911,834

ELEVATOR SYSTEM Filed Feb. 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet I NVENTOR ATTORNEY d? 1933- D. LINDQUISTV ELEVATOR SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26 1931 Fla-3 ATTORNEY v Lma/w INVENTOR Patented May 30, 1933 were stares A A FFICE i nnvrn LEONARD LINnooIsr, or .HABTSDALE, NEW YORK, ssIsrNon ro o'rIs ELEVATOR coMrANY, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY ELEVATOR SYSTEM The present invention relates generally to elevators and refers to an arrangement of the same especially adapted for high buildings or for other installations in which the space available for elevator hatchways 1s limited.

In the construction of high buildings the most important factor limiting the height to which a building may be erected is that of elevator transportation. Considering the size of the plot onwhich a building is to be erected and the set-back regulations generally in force, the height is limited by the space required for the elevator hatchways. The set-back regulations, in order to insure adequate light and air for the building and adjacent buildings, usually require that above a certain height the tower cross-see tional area shall not exceed a specified percentage of the plot area. The tower cross sectionis thus limited in area to a fraction of the size of-the plot, for example, to one quarter of the plot area. Thus the ma Or',

portion of a tower above a certain height may be taken up by elevator hatchways if the usual elevator arrangement for servicing the upper floors, by running the hatchways the entire height of the building with a single elevator car for each hatchway, is employed.

One feature of the invention is to efiect an economy in the number of elevator hatchways required for a specifiedhandling caacity.

Another feature of this invention is to increase the handling capacity of an elevator hatchway.

Another feature of the invention is to arrange a plurality of elevator cars in the same hatchway so that all cars may travel practically the same distance.

A further feature of the invention is to arrange certain hoisting and control conr nections to each of the elevator cars so that they do not contact the other cars in the hatchway. 7

Other features and advantages will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and spec- The invention involves the provision of two or more elevators in a single hatchway eachof which is adapted to run from a terminal floor in the lower part of a building to a specified sectionof floorsin the upper part of a building, to serve locally thatsection in both the up and down directions and to return to its lower terminal fioor.

- For the, purpose of illustrating'the genus of the invention a concrete embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings in which, V

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of an electrically controlled elevator apparatus having two cars in the same hatchway as viewed from the front of said hatchway.

Figure 2 is a similar view taken from the right hand side of the hatchway as illustrated in igure 1. z

Figure 3 is a top plan view, on an enlarged'scale, of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, with certain parts shown only by outline.

'Figure 4 is a bottom plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the apparatus shown in the above figures, as taken from the lower end of the hatchway pit. i

' Referring to Figures 1 and 2 ings, numeral 10 represents a hatchway having certain of the floor landings leading theretoindicated by legend. A lower and an up-v of the drawper car, designated 11 and12, respectively, are

located inthe hatchway 10 and run on-a pair of guides 13- (Figs. 3' and 4) In the ma jority of cases, it is intended to use two ground floor loadinglevels, the lower car 11 using the subway or lower ground level as-a terminal floor and the upper car 12 using the street level or, upper ground floor for as lower terminal-floor. The. lower car 11 may stop at the street level floor regularly only-at certain times if desired. If

it should become necessary or. desirable to have the upper'car 12 also run to the lower terminal floor, then additional pit depth must be provided to allow the lower car 11 to get out of the way of-theupper car 12 while the latter goes down to the bottom terminal floor.

For a clearer understanding ofithefl arrangement of the hoisting, and traveling cars, respectively, are disposed, one on eachv side of a traveling cable'chute 18. These weights may be of lead, if desired, The function of this chute will be explained later. The upper machine 14 is arranged at an angle across the hatchway so that the opposite peripheral margins of the drive sheave 19 of this machine will be disposed, one over the center of counterweight 16 and the other over a point 20 located below machine 15, adjacent the hatchway side wall and at one side ofa car guide 13. The hoisting cables 22 for the lower car 11 run from a cable hitch 23 on counterweight 16, over the sheave 19, around a" secondary sheave 21 disposed directly below'and in the I same plane with sheave 19, over'the sheave 19 in the same direction asbefore and thence vertically downward to point 20 where the cables divide. Any desired number of hoisting cables 22 may be employed, two being shown in the drawings. One half of the lower car hoisting cables 22 continue vertically downward to a cable hitch 24 at the bottom of car 11. The other half of the hoisting cables for car 11 run from point 20 under an idler sheave 25, thence across the hatchway and over a second idler sheave 26 to a point 27 diametrically opposite from point 20 with respect to the approximate center of gravity of the elevator car 11. From point 27 cables 22 travel directly clownward along the side wall of the hatchway to a second cable hitch 28 which is also located at the bottom of'the car diametrically opposite the first named cable hitch 24, with respect to the approximate center of gravity 12 is also arranged at an angle across the hatchway so that its drive sheave 29 may be allocated in the vertical plane cu ting the centers of gravity of both the upper elevator car 12 and its counterweight 17, one peripheral margin of the sheave 29 being arranged directly over the approximatecenter of gravity of the car. The hoisting cables 30 for the upper car .12 run from cable hitch 31 on counterweight 17 to a sheave 32 disposed below and in the same plane with sheave 29. Sheave 32 serves both as an idler sheave to effect a change in direction of cables 30 and as a secondary sheave about which the cables 30 pass. Any desired number of cables 30 may be employed, but two being shown in the drawings.

top of car 12 directly above its approximate in center of gravity. The term approximate center ofgravityl of the car has been em.

ployed since it may be desirable to fix the exact location ofthe cable hitches 24, 28 and 33 in accordance with the location of the center of gravity of each car plus an estimated load rather than that of the car alone.

The compensatingcables for the lower car 11 are designated and run from a cable hitch 35 on the bottom of the car directly down to and hali around atension sheave 36 then vertically upward to acable hitch 37 on counterweight 16. sheave 36 is arranged atsuch an angle and is off a diameter to carry out the above described compensating cable arrangement.

The compensating cables for the upper car 12 must pass the lower car 11.so are divided and suspended from two pointsadjacent the top of the car 12 by means 01" cable hitches 39 and 40 which are fixed to the car and project outwardly beyond its sides. These compensating cables are designated 41 and both run vertically downward to tension sheaves 42, 43 and 44 arranged to guide the cables to points directly below a cable hitch 66 on counterweight 17 to which the cables 41 are fastened. Tension sheaves 36, 42, 43 and 44 may be provided with suitable guide frames 38 as indicated in Figure 4. The arrangementof the sheaves 36, 42,43 and 44 is clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4. I

The cable hitches 24 and 28 are located at the bottom of car 11, or at least below the top of the lower car, and the cable hitches 39 and 40 are located at the top of car 12, or at leastabove the bottom of the upper car so that the two cars may be brought close together wihout interference between one car and the cable hitches to the other car.

A tape drive is used to operate the selector machine 71 of the lower car 11 and comprises two tapcs, 45 and 46, each having one end fixed to a double sheave drum 47located at approximately the same level the upper hoisting machine 14 for the lower car 11. The tapes 45. and 46 are oppositely wound on drum '47 so that as tape 46, for example, is unwound from drum 47 by the downward motion of car 11, the drum 47 is rotated in a. counterclocl-nvise direction as viewed in Figure 1 and tape winds on the drum 47.

Tape 46 runs from the drum 47 over an idler sheave 48 to bring this tape outsice the path of travel of elevator car 12 and the-second end of this tape is fixed to a bracket 49 which projects outwardly from thetop of car 11. Tape 45 leads from the connection between the drum 47 and the se-- lector machine 71 may be employed.

A'tape drive is also employed to operate a selector machine 72 for the upper car'12. This drive comprises two tapes 53 and 54, each having one endfixed to a double sheave drum 55 located at approximately the same level as the lower hoistingmachine 15 for the upper car 12. Tapes 53 and 54 are'oppositely wound on drum 55 so that as tape 53 is unwound from the drum 55 by the downward motion of car 12, the drum 55 isrotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 and tape is wound on drum 55. Tape 53 runs directly down from drum 55 to a. securingmeans 57 fixed to the top of the car 12. Tape 54 leads from the opposite side of drum 55, engages an idler sheave 56 arranged to guide the tape to a point outside the travel of both cars, runs directly downward along the'side of the hatchway to a point near the bottom thereof where it reverses, runs around av sheave 58 having a weight 59 suspended therefrom and directly up the hatchway to a securing bracket 60 fixed to the bottom of car 12. Sheave 58 is disposed at right angles to sheave 55 so as to bring both vertical strands of tape 54 along the side wall of hatchway 10. The strand of tape 54 between the sheaves 55 and 58 is twisted a quarter turn. Sheave 58 and its weight 59 are guided by a frame 61 which is secured to'the hatchway wall and engages slotted portions of said weight. This guide frame permits only vertical movement of the weight.- A similar guide frame may be provided for weight 51 and sheave 52 if desired.

In certain installations it may be found desirable to avoid using tensioning means and guide frames in the pit of the hatchway. To this end tapes 45 and 54 are eliminated altogether and spring or motor actuated rewind mechanisms are connected to the shafts of drums 47 and 55 to put tapes 46 and 53 under tension.

It may be desirable to arrange the selector machines 71 and 72 at the same level. This level may be approximately the same level as that occupied by either hoisting machine or an intermediate level between the hoisting machines. Arranging the selector machines at or nearly the same level facilities their interconnection by mechanical or electrical means so that each selector machine may control or be responsiveto certain functions of the other. Thus, the selector machines may control each car in accordance with the relative position and movement of the other car in the hatchway in addition to the control usually effected by the selector 'machines.

To this end selector machine 72 maybe placed at the same level with machine 71 as indicated by the dotted line construction at the top of Figure 2. To avoid an additional driveconnection'between the drum'55 and selector machine 72 this drum maybe disposed at the upper hoisting machine level. It is obvious that the two selector machines,

together with their driving drums 55 and 47,

-may be placed at the lower hoisting machine level or at an intermediate level between the hoisting machines if desired.

The application of two elevators in one hatchway is materially limited if'the lower car can-travel only a part ofthe distance of the upper car. In order that the lower car may travel practically the same distance that the upper car does, some provision must be made for preventing the lower car from foul ing the traveling cable of the upper car. To accomplish this, the chute 18 is provided for the traveling cable of the upper car 12. This chute is arranged between counterweights 16 and 17 and fastened to the back wall of the hatchway. In order to get sufficient clearance for the chute it is necessary to construct very narrow counterweights. In order to supply these counterweights with safety devices, as. is sometimes required, it

becomes necessary to place one safety device above the other instead of in the same horizontal line, which is their usual arrangement. Even though thecounterweights'are made as narrow as-possible, in some installations there will not be sufiicient room to provide a chute so wide that the traveling cables can run up and down in thischute without rubbing its walls. In order to make it possible to run the traveling cables oftheupper car 12 in a comparatively'narrow chute, without running the risk of having the cables tangled up with each other, these cables, designated 62. are' clamped or tied together with cleats 63' in such a manner that the traveling cable as a whole takes the form of a'belt. These cleats extendjbeyond the cablesand are placed sufliciently close together to provide the rubbing and guiding surfaces so that the traveling cables themselves can not come in contact with the chute 18. Qther means may be provided for the same purpose but the cleat arrangement affords a very simple and effective means of accomplishing the desired result.

One terminal of the traveling cables is at a junction 64 arranged at the approXimate center of the vertical travel of the upper car 12 and secured to the side wall of the chute 18-to suspend ,the traveling cable from a point within the chute remotefrom a central slot 65 which extends'throughout the length of the chute. The other terminal of the traveling cablev is at a junction on the bottom of the elevator car 12. This end of the traveling cable is supported from the elevator car in such a way as to cause the individual cables 62 to depend into the chute at the opposite side from the junction 64:. The supporting means for this end of the travelin cable preferably consists in a plate member 67 havin its upper edge secured flush with the bottom surface of the elevator car floor by a right angle bracket or other suitable means. Support plate 67 has two oppositely directed right angle bends therein to enable it to extend through slot 65 of shute 18 then along the front Wall of the chute and thence along the side wall. Cables 62 are secured to the side of plate 67 by straps or other suitable fasteners and depend from the end portion of the plate 67 adjacent the sidewall of the chute.

Thetraveling cable in the form of a belt is rather flexible in the direction along the hatchway back wall but rather inflexible toward and away from this Wall. The flexibility in the first mentioned direction enables the use of a narrow chute and the inflexibility in the other direction tends to prevent any depending portion of the cable from emerging from the slot 65. The cleats on the traveling cable also aid in keepingit in the chute. If desired these cleats may be made of sufiicient size to absolutely preclude their passage through the slot.

The traveling cable for the lower car designated 68 depends from ajunction 69 fixed to the bottom of car 11 and a second junction 70 fixed to the side wall of the hatchway at the approximate vertical center thereof and adjacent the front of the hatchway. This traveling cable may also be provided with a guard chute if desired.

With the above described arrangements of the traveling cables, the lower car can be made to serve the same number of floors as the upper car, and can get just as close to the upper car at any point in its travel as is desired.

In general, the lower car 11 uses the sub way or lower ground floor as its lower terminal and runs express to the group of floors it serves. The upper car uses the street level or upper ground floor as its lower terminal and runs express to a group of floors located above those served by the lower car. For eiiicient operation the round trip time of the cars should be the same.

The longer express run of the upper car takes a little longer time, but in tall buildings in whichthe elevators have long express runs at high speeds the difference in the lower terminal slightly before the lower car but preferablyboth leave the bottom terminals simultaneously and are so interlocked that they can leave only in. this manner. Both cars run together until the lower car reaches the floors it serves, the top car continuing on at expressspeed to the group of floors it is to serve. Each car serves its assigned group of floors traveling in the up direction to the last floor to be served-and reverses making the necessary stops in the downcdirection at floorsin its assigned group and then runs express to its bottom terminal. Interlocks may be prov1ded to prevent the cars from both traveling toward each other or from both traveling toward each other at high speed, as desired. Interlocks may also be provided to prevent each car from approaching the other at high speed when the cars are separated by certain predetermined distances.

For'the regular running operation of the cars the two selector machines may hemechanically or electrically interconnected to effect the interlocking functions. To this end the selector machines of the two cars may be arranged at a common level preferably at an intermediate level between the two hoisting machines, as previously described.

Additional safety devices may be provided having parts extending from one or both cars toward the other for modifying the operation of either or both cars whenthe cars are within predetermined distances of each other. The operation of these safety devices may be modified at the bottom stopping zone of the cars to permit both to reach their terminals, or at other points in the hatchway to permit the two cars to make their express runs in the downward direction in the same relative positions as in the up- Ward express runs. Both cars may be provided withcar position indicators to show the location of both cars as an aid to the car operatives in controlling the operations of their cars according to the relative positions of both cars in the hatchway.

Asmany changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mating a vertical opening throughout its length through which opening extends the means securing the car end of said traveling cable; and means attached to sald traveling cable and cooperating with the edges of the ver-' tical opening 111 sald chute forpreventmg egress from said chute of any portion of said traveling cable.

2. In an elevator installation, a hatchway, an elevator car adapted to travel up and down in said: hatchway, traveling cables depending from said car and a wall of the hatchway, a chute for said traveling cables for preventing said cables from fouling objects in the hatchway, and means arranged on said cables to prevent the cables from rubbing the chute. j

3. In an elevator installation, a hatchway, an elevator car adapted to travel up and down said hatchway, traveling cables depending from said car and a wall of said hatchway, a chute for said traveling cables for preventing said cables from fouling objects in the hatchway, and means for securing said cables together-in the form of a belt and for preventing the cables from rubbing the chute. v

4. In an elevator installation, a hatchway, an elevator car adapted to travel up and down in said hatchway, traveling ,cables communicating between the elevator car and a junction in the hatchway, a chute for said cables disposed adjacent the elevator car and parallel with the hatchway, said chute having a central opening extending throughout its length, a support for the car. end of the cables entering into said chute through said opening, and means secured to said cables for preventing any portionof said cables for swinging out of said chute throughsaid opening. 7

5. In an elevator installation, a hatchway, an elevator car adaptedtotravel up and down in said hatchway, traveling cables depending from said car and a wall of said hatchway, a chute for said traveling cables disposed along the wall of saidhatchway, said chute having a vertical slot therein, the car end of said cables extending into said chute through said slot and said slot extending throughout the path of, travel of said car end of the cables, and cleats attached at intervals to. said cables to clamp them together in the form of a belt, to' pre vent any portion of the cables fromswinging out of the slot and to prevent the cables from rubbing the sides of the chute.

6. In an elevator installation, a hatchway, two elevator cars therein and arrangedone above the other, two hoisting machines arranged one at a level above that of the other, at the top of the hatchway, two counter weights arranged adjacent and parallel to the back wall of the hatchway, a traveling cable chute arranged between the counterweights, and two setsot hoisting cables for the cars, one set running'from'the lower car up to the upper machine and thence down to one counterweight, the other set running from the upper car up to the lower machine and thence down to the other counterweight. -7. In an elevator installation, a hatchway, a pair of guide rails secured to the side I walls of the hatchway, two elevator cars mounted on said rails one above theother,

two hoisting machines for said cars arranged one at a level above that of the otherat the top of the hatchway, a hoisting sheave on each of said machines, two counterweights one for each car arranged adjacent and parallel to the back wall of the hatchway, hoisting roping for the upper car passing over the hoisting sheave of the lower hoisting machine and connected at-one end to the upper car and at the other end to the upper car counterweight, the lower hoisting machine being skewed at an angle with respect to the back wall of the hatchw'ay so that its hoisting sheavelies in a plane which includes the center of gravity of the upper car and the center of gravity of the upper car counterweight, hoisting roping for the lower car passing over the hoisting sheave on the upper hoisting machine and connected at one end to the lower car counterweight and at the other end to the lower car. at two points of attachment oppositely disposed with respect tothe approximate center of gravity of the lower car, one point of attachment vbeingbetween a guide rail and the back wall of thehatchway and the other point of attachment being between the other guide rail and the front of the hatchway, and sheaves for guiding one half of the hoisting roping for the lower car from a point abovesaid one point or" attachment across the top of the hatchway to a point above the other point of attachmentythe upper hoisting machine being skewed at an angle with respect to the back wall of the hatchway so that its hoisting sheave lies in a plane which includes the center of gravity of the lower car counterweight and the said one point of attachment to the lower car. 1 r

8, In an elevator installation, a hatchway, a pair of guide rails secured tothe side walls of the hatchway,-'two elevator. cars mounted the hatchway, a hoisting sheave on .each of said machines, two counterweights one for each car arranged ad acent and parallel to the back wall of the hatchway, a travelingcable for each car, each traveling cable secured at one end to its car and at the other end to a point in the hatchway, a chute arranged between the counterweights for confining the traveling cable for the upper car, hoisting roping for the upper car passing over the hoisting sheave of the lower hoisting machine and connected at one end to the upper car and at the other end to the upper car counterweight, the lower hoisting machine being skewed at an angle with respect to the back wall of the hatchway so that its hoisting sheave lies in a plane which includes the center of gravity of the upper car and the center of gravity of the upper car counterweight, hoisting roping for, the lower car passing over the hoisting sheave on the upper hoisting machine and connect ed at oneend to the lower'car counterweight and at the other end to the lower car at two points of attachment oppositely disposed with respect to the approximate center of gravity of the lower car, one point of attachment being between a guide rail and the back wall of the hatchway and the other point of attachment being between the other guide rail and the front of the hatchway, and sheaves for guiding one half of the hoisting roping for the lower car from a point above said one point of attachment across the top of the hatchway to a point i above the other point of attachment, the

upper hoisting machine being skewed at an angle with respect to the back wall of the V hatchway so that its hoisting sheave lies in a'plane which includes the center of gravity of the lower car counterweight and the said one point of attachment to the lower car.

'9. In an elevator installation, a hatchway, a pair of guide rails secured to the side walls of the hatchway, two elevator cars mounted on said rails one above the other, two hoisting machines for said cars arranged one at a level above that of the other at the top of the hatchway, a hoisting sheave on each of said machines, two counterweights one for each car arranged adjacent and parallel to the back wall of the hatchway, hoisting roping for the upper car passing over the hoisting sheave of the lower hoisting machine and connected at one end to the upper car and at the other end to the upper car counterweight, the lower hoisting machine being skewed at an angle with respect to the back wall of the hatchway so that its hoisting sheave lies in a plane which includes the center of gravity of the upper car and the center of gravity of the upper car counterweight, hoisting roping for the lower car passing over the hoisting sheave on the upper hoisting machine and connected'at one end to the lower car'counterwei'ght and at the other end to the lower carat two points of attachment oppositely disposed with respect to the approximate center of gravity ofthe lower car, one point of attachment being between a guide rail and the back wall of the hatchway and the other point of attachment being between the other guide rail and the front of the hatchway, sheaves for guiding one half of the hoisting roping for the lower car from a point above said one point of attachment across the top of the hatchway to a point above the other point of attachment, the upper hoisting machine being skewed at an angle with respect to the back wall of the hatchway so that its hoisting sheave lies in a plane which includes the center of gravity of the lower car counter weight and the said one point of attachment to the lower car, compensating roping for the upper car, tensioning sheaves for said compensating roping, said compensating roping being connected at one end to the upper car at two points of attachment oppositely disposed with respect to the approximate center of gravity of-the upper car and on the opposite sides of the guide rails with respect to the points of attachment of the hoisting cables forthe lower car and at the other end to said upper car counterweight, said compensating roping extending downwardly from the upper car around the tensioning sheaves and upwardly to the upper car counterweight, compensating roping. for the lower car, and a tensioning sheave for the compensating roping for the lower car, said lower car compensating roping being connected at one end'tothe lower car and extending downwardly from the car around the tensioning sheave and upwardly to the lower car counterweight, the other end of said last named compensating roping, being attached to the lower car counterweight. r r

10. In an elevator installation, a hatchway, two elevator cars therein and arranged one above the'other, a hoisting machine for each car arranged at the top of the hatchway, a' hoistingsheave on each machine, a counterweight for each car arran ed adjacent and parallel to the back will of the hatchway, hoisting roping for the upper car passing over the hoisting sheave of one ma chine and connected at one end to the upper carat the top thereof and at the other end to the upper car counterweight, and hoisting ropingfor the lower car passing over the hoisting sheave of the other 'machine and connected at one end to the Flower car at the bottom thereof and at the other end to the other counterweight.

11. In an elevator installation, a hatchion its

i in

iio

way, two elevator cars therein and arranged one above the other, a hoisting machine for each car arranged at the top of the hatchway, a hoisting sheave on each machine, a counterweight for each car arranged adjacent and parallel to the back wall of the hatchway, hoisting roping for the upper car passing over the hoisting sheave of one machine and connected at one end to the upper car at the top thereof and at the other end to the upper car counterweight, hoisting roping for the lower car passing over the hoisting sheave of the other machine and connected at one end to the lower car at the bottom thereof and at the other end to the other counterweight, compensating roping for the upper oar connected at one end to the upper car at the top thereof and at the other end to the upper car counterweight, and compensating roping for the lower car connected at one end to the lower car at the bottom thereof and at the other end to the lower car counterweight.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

DAVID LEONARD LINDQUIST. 

